HeXp£Øi±
Well-Known Member
US and British troops advanced deep into Iraq early on Friday, seeking to secure Iraq's southern oil fields against attack by Saddam Hussein's forces. But one convoy of US Marines which crossed into Iraq overnight has come under fire from Iraqi forces.
The BBC's Adam Mynott, who is travelling with the Marines, says the convoy was attacked with small arms fire and missiles just a few yards inside the Iraqi border.
British artillery was called in from northern Kuwait to bombard the Iraqi positions, while the convoy was forced to retreat.
One reconnaissance unit is said to have advanced about 200km (125 miles) through open desert to the west of the river Euphrates.
Correspondents have reported seeing towering flames and smoke in southern Iraq, but it is unclear whether this came from burning oil wells.
Elsewhere, the marines met little resistance as a long convoy of vehicles, including tanks and artillery, snaked its way across the Iraqi desert.
The BBC's Clive Myrie saw scores and scores of Iraqi soldiers surrendering to 40 Commando, UK Royal Marines.
But the western forces suffered their first fatalities of the campaign when a CH-46 Sea Knight transport helicopter crashed in Kuwait, killing 12 British and four American personnel.
The crash is believed to have been an accident. The Iraqi capital, Baghdad, was tense but quiet at daybreak on Friday, after sustaining two punishing air raids within 24 hours.
The BBC's correspondent in Washington, Justin Webb, says it appears that the Pentagon is willing to pause at least for some hours before putting into action the planned devastating aerial bombardment of Baghdad, the so-called "shock and awe strategy".
Given the risk of civilian casualties that that strategy entails, America would plainly prefer to prevail by other means if possible, our correspondent says.
The Iraqi president's main palace and government offices were among targets struck in the second wave of attacks.
Our correspondent says the hope in Washington is that Saddam Hussein's power structure has been significantly weakened and his ability to co-ordinate a strong response to the US-led ground attack has been damaged.
He says it is still thought possible that Saddam Hussein's sons or some of his closest aides were killed in the surprise attack which began the war.
Ground assault
The ground assault began after an intense artillery bombardment in which more than 100 shells were fired on Iraqi positions across the Kuwaiti border. Tens of thousands of troops of the US Third Infantry Division and 1st Marine Division poured into Iraq.
As American units pushed northwards, British marines of Three Commando Brigade backed by tanks mounted an amphibious assault on the strategically important al-Faw peninsula in south-eastern Iraq.
Correspondents say their destination is unclear, although it could be the southern city of Basra.
Large explosions were reported from the direction of Basra, 70km (44 miles) north of the Kuwaiti border, and unconfirmed reports say several oil wells in the area are on fire. The Arabic television station al-Jazeera also reported explosions in the northern city of Mosul.
Shortly after the troops crossed into Iraq, the Kuwaiti news agency, Kuna, said US and British forces had captured the southern Iraqi city of Umm Qasr, a key oil shipping terminal, although Iraqi television denied this.
As the ground campaign unfolded, Australian defence officials said their special forces were operating deep inside Iraq, identifying troops movements and military targets.
Australian FA-18 Hornets - part of a 2,000-strong Australian force sent to the Gulf - have also been protecting US aircraft on missions over Iraq, the Australian defence minister said.
In his first public appearance since America launched its first strike, President George W Bush praised the US troops in action, saying: "There's no question we've sent the finest of our citizens into harm's way."
Iraqi television also broadcast what it said was a new statement from Saddam Hussein.
An announcer read the text, in which the president spoke of Iraq's steadfastness in the face of falsehood and criminals.
Baghdad hit
In the Iraqi capital, huge explosions were heard during the second raid amid Iraqi anti-aircraft fire.
The BBC's Paul Wood, who is in Baghdad, says the explosions were much heavier and closer to the centre of the city than Thursday morning's attack.
Iraqi television said four Iraqi soldiers have died and five have been wounded.
The International Red Cross said one person was killed and 14 others were injured in the first attack.
There is no word of casualties from the second assault.
US officials said the operations did not yet represent the massive bombardment warned of by US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.
Mr Rumsfeld said: "What will follow will not be a repeat of any other conflict."
"It will be of a force and scope and scale that has been beyond what has been seen before." http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2871189.stm
The BBC's Adam Mynott, who is travelling with the Marines, says the convoy was attacked with small arms fire and missiles just a few yards inside the Iraqi border.
British artillery was called in from northern Kuwait to bombard the Iraqi positions, while the convoy was forced to retreat.
One reconnaissance unit is said to have advanced about 200km (125 miles) through open desert to the west of the river Euphrates.
Correspondents have reported seeing towering flames and smoke in southern Iraq, but it is unclear whether this came from burning oil wells.
Elsewhere, the marines met little resistance as a long convoy of vehicles, including tanks and artillery, snaked its way across the Iraqi desert.
The BBC's Clive Myrie saw scores and scores of Iraqi soldiers surrendering to 40 Commando, UK Royal Marines.
But the western forces suffered their first fatalities of the campaign when a CH-46 Sea Knight transport helicopter crashed in Kuwait, killing 12 British and four American personnel.
The crash is believed to have been an accident. The Iraqi capital, Baghdad, was tense but quiet at daybreak on Friday, after sustaining two punishing air raids within 24 hours.
The BBC's correspondent in Washington, Justin Webb, says it appears that the Pentagon is willing to pause at least for some hours before putting into action the planned devastating aerial bombardment of Baghdad, the so-called "shock and awe strategy".
Given the risk of civilian casualties that that strategy entails, America would plainly prefer to prevail by other means if possible, our correspondent says.
The Iraqi president's main palace and government offices were among targets struck in the second wave of attacks.
Our correspondent says the hope in Washington is that Saddam Hussein's power structure has been significantly weakened and his ability to co-ordinate a strong response to the US-led ground attack has been damaged.
He says it is still thought possible that Saddam Hussein's sons or some of his closest aides were killed in the surprise attack which began the war.
Ground assault
The ground assault began after an intense artillery bombardment in which more than 100 shells were fired on Iraqi positions across the Kuwaiti border. Tens of thousands of troops of the US Third Infantry Division and 1st Marine Division poured into Iraq.
As American units pushed northwards, British marines of Three Commando Brigade backed by tanks mounted an amphibious assault on the strategically important al-Faw peninsula in south-eastern Iraq.
Correspondents say their destination is unclear, although it could be the southern city of Basra.
Large explosions were reported from the direction of Basra, 70km (44 miles) north of the Kuwaiti border, and unconfirmed reports say several oil wells in the area are on fire. The Arabic television station al-Jazeera also reported explosions in the northern city of Mosul.
Shortly after the troops crossed into Iraq, the Kuwaiti news agency, Kuna, said US and British forces had captured the southern Iraqi city of Umm Qasr, a key oil shipping terminal, although Iraqi television denied this.
As the ground campaign unfolded, Australian defence officials said their special forces were operating deep inside Iraq, identifying troops movements and military targets.
Australian FA-18 Hornets - part of a 2,000-strong Australian force sent to the Gulf - have also been protecting US aircraft on missions over Iraq, the Australian defence minister said.
In his first public appearance since America launched its first strike, President George W Bush praised the US troops in action, saying: "There's no question we've sent the finest of our citizens into harm's way."
Iraqi television also broadcast what it said was a new statement from Saddam Hussein.
An announcer read the text, in which the president spoke of Iraq's steadfastness in the face of falsehood and criminals.
Baghdad hit
In the Iraqi capital, huge explosions were heard during the second raid amid Iraqi anti-aircraft fire.
The BBC's Paul Wood, who is in Baghdad, says the explosions were much heavier and closer to the centre of the city than Thursday morning's attack.
Iraqi television said four Iraqi soldiers have died and five have been wounded.
The International Red Cross said one person was killed and 14 others were injured in the first attack.
There is no word of casualties from the second assault.
US officials said the operations did not yet represent the massive bombardment warned of by US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.
Mr Rumsfeld said: "What will follow will not be a repeat of any other conflict."
"It will be of a force and scope and scale that has been beyond what has been seen before." http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2871189.stm
